Folding chair



Dec. 17, 1940. J. KQVATS 2,225,306

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Jan. 29, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l 29 Fag 3 39 26 v /a 4/ 1., 27 25 v W W I fi INVENTOR Dec.17,1940. I KovA-rs 2,225,306

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Jan. 29, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT 1 oiFricE.

FOLDING CHAIR John Kovats, Fairfield, Conn.

Application-January 29, 1'938,'Serial-No. 187,642

12 Claims.

This invention relates." to folding chairs and other similar. articles of? furniture.

Eoldin'g'chairs have heretofore been proposed iniwhichsimultaneous'movement of the back rest and legs to folded and extendedposition is effected; These chairs;- however, included complicatedilinkagemechanisms which present a plurality of: pivotally connected links. These pivotal connectors required many stamping and assembling operations which increase the cost of production; To avoid these complications, the back'resti and. legs' are, according to the present invention, interconnected by a pair of single elements; one'on each-side of't'he chair, an'dthese elements are so connected to the front legs, the rear legs an'dthe backrest that they all'move together in opening and closing operations of the chair.

In manufacturing metalchairs of the folding type, in-which' the back rest'andlegs move to a compact folded relation and which are securely locked'in the extended relation, it has not been possible to construct such chairs entirely from easilystamped-'orotherwise formed metal members so as to be economically produced'in mass production. Accordingly, in the herein prefe'rredform' of the invention, the chair is made upof metalelements'that' can be readily stamped, rolled and/or drawn in such shapes that they can'be producedi'n quantities at low cost.

In? keeping'with one of the objects of this invention;, which is to reduce the cost and facilitate the 'manufactureof metal chairs, the chair of the present'invent'ion is so formed and the mechanism is so organizedlthat most of the parts for therighth'a'nd side and 'left hand'side of the chair are identical.

In the form of the invention herein disclosed, the linkage mechanisms connecting the front legs, back legs and back rest and located at opposite sides of the chair, are exactly alike.

By the elimination of lefts and rights, the number of tools required. to manufacture the chair is reduced'to half, the increased costand the maintenance of separation of lefts and rights, and the confusion which results from their use, is completely obviated.

The means for securely locking the chair in the extended position, according to the invention herein disposed, comprises a latch means stamped from sheet metal adapted.- to automatically engage keeper means fermedin the front leg structure of the chair. When the legs are moved to extended position, and. due tothe interconnection of the legs and back rest frame; the latch means holdsallof the elements of the chair in'rigid extended position. g

In order to present, a very pleasing appearance, substantially all: of the fixtures of thechair are mounted on or held to the underneath side of the-seat member so' as to behiddenfrom view and inconspicuous. 1

Otherfeatures and advantages of the invention' will appear from the specification-when taken in connection. with the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a View taken along line l--! of Fig. 6 partially-in elevation showing the. chair in foldedposition, theendportion of the back rest frame beingbroken away.

Fig. 2 isa view similarto-Fig. 1', showing the chair partly extended. 1

Fig. 3 is another viewsimilar toFig; 1,.showing the chair in fullyextended position with. the free endsofthe legsandbackrest frame broken away;

Fig; 4 is. a front. elevation of. the chair partly broken awayto illustrate the latchmeans inoperative position.

Fig. 5-is a viewv similar to-Figi 4, showing the position of the latch means When renderedinoperative andthe. relative positionof theparts afterthe initial movement of the front legstoward folded position; i

Fig. 6 is. a plan view. of the. seat portion par-- tially. in cross sectionand. partially. broken away.

Fig. 7 is a perspective viewlooking. in the direction of the arrow 1 of .Fig. 6.

The preferredform of the invention, herein disclosed, comprises .an all metal folding chair having a seat. frame Hi to which is secured a seat cushion, which is adapted to be supported by pairs of pivotally mounted rear and front legs H and I2- A backrestframe i3, having a suitable back support, is pivotally associated with said seat frame and an improved link means I5 on each side of. the chair pivotally interconnects the legs H and I2 and back rest frame I3 for movement as a unit about the seat frame, l0. A releasable latch means I6, carried by the seat frame and-automatically operable when the chair is extended for use, prevents accidental collapse thereof, and securely holds the chair in the extended position.

The seat frame. It preferably consists of a singlestrip of suitable angle iron bent so as to provide a frame having an upper face with a depending skirt portion extending about the marginal edgesthereof. The strip of angle iron used is of such length that after being bent to the shape desired to form the frame, the ends Will meet or closely approach each other and can be permanently connected together as by spot welding so that the strip forms a rigid metallic frame. The seat frame may be of any desired shape but in its present preferred embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6, is slightly oblong and flared towards the front so that the front legs will be spaced somewhat further apart than the rear legs. With this construction, the rear legs will nest between the front legs when the chair is in the folded position.

A seat cushion l'l conforming to the desired shape of the seat frame l0 can be formed from a single piece of suitable material and can be secured to the upper face of the seat frame by any conventional means.

The legs I I, I2 and back rest frame l3, for economy and convenience of manufacture, may

be formed from suitable stampings of sheet metal which have been rolled to form the desired tubular shape. The abutting edges of the rolled stampings may then be permanently secured together as by welding to increase the rigidity of these members. A seamless construction may be had if the legs and back rest frame are drawn and then rolled to form the desired shape.

The legs and back rest frame preferably, as herein shown, are adapted to be pivotally inter connected to the seat frame III by two groups of elements, one group being the counterpart of the "other and each being suitably arranged for installation respectively on the right and left hand sides of the chair. The elements are preferably stamped from sheet metal, and, with few exceptions, are interchangeable so that they can be used in connection with either group. This greatly reduces the number of stamping operations and results in a greater economy of manufacture. As the two groups comprise identical members, one only will be described in detail, and the second group will be. hereinafter mentioned only where it appears necessary to clearly describe the operation of the chair or where a member of one group performs a function in conjunction with the counterpart of its other group.

Referring now to Fig. '7, it will be seen that the front legs l2 of the chair, in the present construction, are pivoted to the seat frame I0 adjacent the front edge thereof by hinge members l8. The hinge members stamped from sheet metal and, in the construction shown, comprise hinge plates l9 having depending tubular sockets 20 formed therewith.

. Each socket may beconveniently formed integral with the hinge plate as shown, as the plate, during the stamping operation, may be slit inwardly from each side so as to provide a partially separated lower segment which may then be rolled to form the tubular socket.

The front legs 12 are secured within the sockets 20 by means of suitable pins 2| adapted to be received in aligned apertures formed in the sockets and front legs. The hinge plate l9 preferably, as herein shown, is formed substantially L-shaped and is so disposed so as to engage contiguous portions of the front and side skirt members 22 and 23, respectively, of the seat frame ID. The portion of the hinge plate l9, engaging the side skirt member 23 of the seat frame, is connected thereto by a suitable pivot pin 24. The opposite end of the hinge plate is free to move about the pivot pin 24 and is formed during the stamping operation so as to be slightly arcuate in cross section to permit that portion of the l8 are preferably plate to clearthe front skirt member 22 as the leg l2 and socket 20 pivot about the pin 24.

The rear legs H and the back rest of the chair are adapted to be pivotally connected to the seat frame III. In the preferred form of the invention, this is accomplished by means of a pair of link members 25 and 26 connected to the rear legs and back member, respectively. One of the ends of each of the link members 25 and 26 is secured to the side skirt member 23 of the seat frame I 0 by a suitable pin or bolt 21. Toprevent binding or interference between the link members 25 and 26 during movement thereof, the

link members preferably are connected to the seat frame on opposite sides of the skirt member. As clearly shown in Fig. 6; the link members 25 and 26 are connected to the inner and outer sides, respectively, of the skirt member 23.: The pins, although firmly securing the ends of the link members to the skirt to prevent any lateral movement with respect to the seat, permit pivotal movement about: the pins 21. The other ends of the links 25.26 areconnected to the rear legs and back member, respectively, by means of pivot pins 28 and 29. The connections to the rear .legs and back member are made at a point intermediate the ends thereof and permit pivotal movement of the legs and back rest with respect to the link members as well as pivotal movement about the pin 21'. With this construction, the legs and backrest are pivotally. mounted so as to have acompound pivotalmovement whereby they can be folded in parallel relation by means of the control means as will be later described.

The linkmembers 25 are of sufficient length to permit the legs H to extend .rearwardly and downwardly at a suitable angle so as to provide a. rigid support for the chair, when in an extended position. To further augment the rigidity of the chair in the extended position, the rear legs preferably, as illustrated in Fig.4, are rigidly interconnected intermediate the ends thereofby means of suitable brace rods B.

A suitable back support 30 may be secured to the frame I3 to increase the comfort of the chair while in use. The back support may be formed in a single operation fromsuitable sheet material and preferably, as herein shown, consists of a suitable shaped member 30 having the vertical edges thereof rolled to conform with the back rest frame so that it may be conveniently secured thereto. Channels 3| may be formed adjacent the securing edges thereof and are adapted to receive the marginal edges of some suitable covering material 32. To securely retain the covering material to the back support, a cord preferably is positioned in the channels 3| and forced to a tight fit therein.

It will be seen, referring to Fig. 3, that the adjacent ends of therear leg H and back rest frame l3 are in engagement when the chair is in the extended position. In this position, the end of the back frame rests upon the rear leg which increases the rigidity of the chair in use.

To facilitate the relative movement of these members, when the chair is collapsedor unfolded, the abutting ends of the same are suitably curved so that a rolling-contact is permitted therebetween during the folding and unfolding operations.

For the purpose of controlling the movement of thelegs and back restmember as well as for bracing the same in the extended position, they preferably, as herein shown, are interconnected by the pair of elongated link members l5, each disposed on. opposite sides of the chair... The links are preferably formed in a single stamping operation and. are of such shape as to directly interconnect the legs andback'rest: frame. The employment ofv a single connectingflink. on each side of" the chair: for controlling the movement of the legs and ba'ckmemb'erobviatesa plurality of connectors and reduces the cost of manufacture.

The link members l5- are concealed from view by the skirt portions 23 of the seat frame, and are,.therefore, inconspicuous and prevented from causing damage to the clothing of. a person using the chair. The rear skirt portion 34' of the seat frame adjacent the rear legs is provided with apertures or slots 33 which are adapted to receive and guide the links l5 during movement thereof. The front endof each link is pivotally connected to a front" l'eg l2 by means of the pin 2! which secures the front leg in the socket 20. The pin 21 may have the ends thereof peened over to form retaining head members. The links l5, at the opposite ends thereof, are provided with a pair of laterally extending projections 35--3'6 forming a T-head 31 adapted to be received' within elongated apertures 38-39 formed in the rear leg H and back rest frame l3, respectively, in the adjacent ends thereof. The opposite ends of the T-head 31 are suitably secured to the interior wall of the rear leg H and back rest frame I3 by means of rivets or pins 41, in such a-manner as to allow a pivotal movement of the two about their respective rivets or pins. The link members l5 so connect the legs H-l2 and back rest frame [3, as will be now understood, that movement of one pivotal member is transmitted to the remaining members and they are thereby capable of concerted movement as a unit. The movement of the various members of the chair into the extended position shown in Fig. 3', is limited by the T-head 31 of the links [5, engaging the rear skirt member 34 of the seat frame H) as the links slide forward in the slot 33-. It will also be seen that the elongated link; members, in addition to their operative function, serve as brace members and further augment the rigidity of the chair in the extended position.

To prevent the chair from accidentally collapsing while in use. the latch means It has been provided operative when the chair is in the extended position to securely hold the same in such position. As best shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 7, the means may consist of oppositely extending detents 43-supported on the front skirt portionzz of the seat frame and adapted to engage with suitable notches or keepers 44" formed in the free ends of the hinge plates IQ of the front leg structure when the chair is in the extended position.

The detents 43 are tapered and are adapted to engage the notches or keepers 44 of the'hinge plates 19 so that a wedging action takes place during the engagement thereof. This-securely looks the detents 43 in the keepers and also forces the front leg structure into its proper position when the chair is in the extended position. The detents are preferably formed with laterally proiecting studs 45 adapted to be received in elongated apertures 46 formed'in-g uide means 4'! secured to the inner surface of the front skirt member 23' of the seat frame ID. The guide means 4'! comprisesuitable plates 48 having the bottommost portions secured to the skirt member by rivets 50. The plates are laterally offset intermediate the top and bottom edges to provide horizontal. guide passages 5!. for the detents 43. In: order to prevent; movement 'of the plates 48 about" the rivets and to' rigidly securethe plates to the seat frame, the plates are provided with upwardly projecting tab-like portions 52' received in apertures, not shown, formed in the upper surface of the seat frame I0.

A suitable spring 53 is secured to the inner ends of the: detents 43 and normally urges the detents in oppositely extending directions. This movement of the detents 43 is guided and limited by the studs 45 formedintegra'l with the detents sliding'in' the elongated apertures 43 of the guide plates 48. When the chair is in the extended position, the detents 43 will be moved by the spring ,53"into' engagement with the notches or keepers 44 of the hinge plates l9, thereby preventing: accidental collapse of the chair.

To permit the detents 43 to be automatically moved to their operative position when the chair is unfolded; the detents 43 and the hinge plates [9 are preferably formedsothat a camming action takes place therebetween and the detents are thrust inwardly or retracted until the chairiis completely extended. The detents 43 are then moved by the action of the spring 53 to their operativeposition' in-engagement with the keepers 44. As shown inFigs. 4 and 7- of the'drawings the detents are provided with angular or camming: shoulders 54 adapted to engage similar shoulders 55 of the hinge plates. l9 during the unfolding movement. 1 The hinge plates [9, as they are moved about the pivots 21 during this movement, due to the camming action of the twoshoulders, retracts-or moves the detents 43 toan inward' position permittingthehinge plates to assume their position when the chair is fully extended. The detents 43 are then free to move, by act-ionof the spring. 53, into engagement with the keepers 44 andthereby latch or hold the chair in. the extended. position for use against accidentalcollapse;

In userit will be seen. that the chair is extremely rigid. and capable of. withstanding the hard usage to which chairs of this type are constantly subject. The legs, back rest and seat member,.aswill.now be understood, are so inter connectedthat thevarious link members em ployedin. addition to their operating function also give the chair avery desirable stability in the 7 When it is desired to fold the chair for. the

purpose of storage or transportation, the spring member 53 may be grasped intermediate the ends thereofand by a downward pull thereon, clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, the detents 43 can be simultaneously moved from their operative position thereby causing disengagement of the same from the keepers 44 of the hinge plates 20. The chair may then be easily folded by grasping the backrest member l 3 andmovingit to its folded position overlyin th seat member III. This forward movement of the back rest member I3 is transmitted by the link members l5 simultaneously to the legs of the chair which are then causedto be moved about their respective pivots to their folded position underlying'the seat member.

As theframe hasa greater width across the that the internested legs and back rest member are in Substantial parallelism with the seat member so that the chair occupies but a minimum of storage space. l

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.n I claim: l j

1. In a folding chair, thecombination of a seat member; rear legs; .a back rest; link means pivotally connecting said rear legs and back rest to said seat member; front legs pivotally connected to said seat member; and means for directly interconnecting the legs and back rest for simultaneous movement about the seat member;

2. In a folding chair, the combination of a seat member; rear legs; a back rest; link means pivotally connecting said rear legs; and back rest to said seat member; front legs pivotally connected to said seat member; anda pair of link means, one on each side of the chair pivotally interconnecting the legs and back rest for simultaneous folding movement about the seat member.

3. In a folding chain'the combination of a seat member; rear legs; a back rest; link means pivotally connecting said rear legs and back rest to said seat member; front legs pivotally connected to said seat member; and means including a T- shaped link member on each side of said chair pivotally interconnecting the legs and back rest for simultaneous folding movement about the seat member. v v

4. A folding chair comprising a seat frame; a seat cushion secured thereto; rear legs; means for pivotally interconnecting said frame and rear legs; a back rest frame having a back support thereon; means for pivotally securing said back rest frame to said seat frame; front legs; hinge plates having sockets thereon receiving said front legs, said hinge plates having a direct pivotal connection to the seat frame; and a pair of link members one on each side of the chair interconnecting said legsand back rest frame for simultaneous folding movement about the seat frame, 5. A folding cha ir comprising a seat frame; rear legs; link means pivotally interconnecting said frame and rear legs; a back rest frame having a back [support thereon; link means pivotally securing said back restframe to said seat frame; front .legs; hinge plates having sockets thereon receiving said front legs, said hinge. plates pivotally connected to; the seat frame and having keepers formed thereon; means for .interconnecte ing said legs and back rest frame for simultaneous folding movement about the seat frame; and detents carried by the seat frame for locking engagement with said keepers when the chair is in extended position whereby accidental collapse of the chair is prevented. l j

6. A folding chair comprising a seatframe; rear legs; link means pivotally interconnecting saidframe and rear legs; a back rest frame having a' back support thereon; link means pivotally securing said back rest frame to said seat frame; front legs; hinge plates having sockets thereon receiving said front legs, said hinge plates pivotally connected to'said seat frame; means for interconnecting said legs and back rest frame for simultaneous folding movement about said seat frame, said hinge plates having keepers formed thereon; detents carried by the seat frame for lockin engagement with said keepers; and resilient means for urging said detents into locking engagement with the keepers when the chair is in'extended position to hold said chair in such position.

7. In a folding chair, the "combination of a seat member; rear and front legs supporting said seat member; a back rest member, said legs and back rest member pivotally secured to said seat member; means for; interconnecting the pivotal members for simultaneousmovement about the seat member; latch means rendered operative when the chair is in extended position to lock said chair in such position, said latch means including plates secured to said seat member adjacent the front legs and oifsetto form horizontally disposed guide passages, said plates having elongated apertures formed therein adjacent said guide passages; detents mounted for movement in said guide passages having laterally projecting studs adapted to slide in and be guided by said elongated apertures, said detents adapted to engage keepers formed in the front legs of said chair; and resilient means connected to and normally urging said detents into engagement with said keepers and providing means for simultaneously releasing said detents.

8; A folding chair comprising a seat frame; rear legs; means pivotally interconnecting said frame and rear legs; a back rest frame having a back support thereon; means pivotally securing said back rest frame to said seat frame; front legs; hinge plates having sockets formed thereon receiving said front legs and pivotally connected to the seat frame; means for interconnecting said legs and back rest frame for simultaneous movement about the seat frame; latch means rendered operative when the chairis in extended position to hold said chair in; such position, said latch means including plates securedto said seat frame adjacent the front legs having horizontally disposed guide passages formed thereon, said plates having elongated apertures formed therein adjacent said guide passages; detents mounted for movement in said guide passages having laterally projecting studs adapted toslide insaid elongated apertures and be guided thereby, said detents adapted to engage keepers formed in said hinge plates; and resilient means normally urging said detents into engagement with said keepers and providing means for simultaneously releasing said detents.

9. In a folding, chair, the combination of a seat member; rear legs; a back rest; link means pivotally connecting said rear legs and back rest to said seat member; front legs pivotally connected tosaid seat member; and'means including a link member on each side of said chair, each link havingadjacent an end thereof integral means pivotally connected to the back rest and a rear leg respectively at points spaced from the pivotal connections of the back rest and rear leg'with the first named link means, the opposite end of each second link being pivotally connected to a front leg at a point spaced from the pivotal connection of the latter to the seat member whereby the legs and back rest may besiniultaneously folded about the seat member.

10. A folding chair comprising a seat frame;

rear legs; link means pivotally interconnecting said seat frame and rear legs; a backrest frame having a back support thereon; link means pivotally securing said back rest frame to said seat frame; front legs; hinge plates having sockets formed thereon receiving said front legs and pivotally connected to the seat frame; a T-headed link on each side of said chair for interconnecting said legs and backrest frame for simultaneous folding movement about said seat frame; latch means rendered operative by movement; of said hinge plates to the extended position to hold said chair in such position for use; and means for releasing said latch means to permit the chair to be folded.

11. In a folding chair; the combination of a seat member; a pair of rear and front legs supporting said seat member; a back rest member; link members pivotally connecting said rear legs and back rest member to said seat member; and means for directly interconnecting the leg and back rest member for simultaneous folding move ment about the seat member, said means including a T-headed link disposed on each side of the chair, each of said rear legs being pivotally connected to the cross head of its associated T- shaped link intermediate the end of each leg and its pivotal connection to one of said first-named links, the back rest member being pivot-ally connected at each side to the cross head of the adjacent T-shaped link intermediate the lower end of the back rest member and the point of connection with said first-named link members, and a front leg pivotally connected to the staff of each T- shaped link.

12. In a folding chair including a seat member; a pair of rear and front legs; and a back rest member; means for pivotally securing said rear legs and back rest member intermediate the ends 7 thereof to said seat member, said front legs pivotally secured to said seat member; means for interconnecting the legs and back rest member for simultaneous folding movement about the seat member, said means including a T-headed link disposed on each side of the chair, one of the rear legs and one side of the back rest member being pivotally connected adjacent the ends thereof to a cross head of the associated link; and one of the front legs of said chair being pivotally connected to the staff of each link whereby the chair may be folded to a compact shape with the legs and back rest member in substantial parallelism with said seat member.

JOHN KOVATS'. 

